Les Oréades 1902

William Bouguereau made this painting, Les Oréades, with oils. It looks so smooth, it’s like he's trying to hide the fact that it's paint at all! He blends everything so carefully to create this dreamy scene. The first thing I notice is the group of figures that seem to float and intertwine. Their flesh tones are pale and luminous against the dark, moody background. The texture is so delicate, especially in the way he paints their skin, with subtle gradations of tone. Look closely at the way he renders their hair – soft, flowing strands that catch the light. It's so idealized, like a fantasy, and reminds me of other 19th-century academic painters who were obsessed with an idea of beauty. You can see the influence of the old masters but also a distinctly romantic sensibility. I think Bouguereau might have looked at Titian, but, really, this piece shows a new direction that embraces a different idea of beauty.